The great man is one who can put into words the will of his age,

Niccoló Machiavelli appears in canon (although he sadly does not have enough appearances yet to be appable) as a student at the same university Cesare is attending (and he did actually go there during those years, although probably not in the role the manga gives him, haha) and was sent as a diplomat to Cesare's military campaigns in the early 1500's. Cesare had a great influence on the development of his thoughts on political theory and science and he praised him in The Prince, the text for which he is now (in)famous. Machiavelli is shown to be already watching him with interest in canon and Cesare already displays signs of becoming that brilliant if idealized leader.

( it's all about power then / take control / breaking the rule / breaking the soul )